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ABOUT COMBUSTION REGULATIONS

The Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) issued the National Emission Guideline for Commercial/Industrial Boilers and Heaters in March 1998. It applies to new boilers and heaters that use natural gas, distillate oil or residual oil as their primary fuel. However, it does not apply to standby boilers (those fired less than 500 hours per year). Existing boilers and heaters also are not required to meet the Guideline. If a boiler or a heater is overhauled, the CCME suggests that the Guideline applies if

the cost of the heater or boiler reconstruction exceeds 50 percent of the current total erected costs; or

the reconstruction work involves a burner change and the costs exceed 12.5 percent of the current total erected costs.

One of the many exclusions in the Guideline applies to boilers and heaters having an input capacity less than 10.5 GJ/h (10 million Btu/h). An important point to remember is that emissions credits are allowed when energy efficiency (e.g. of fuel combustion and heat recovery) is improved.

Provinces and territories may adopt the Guideline as a part of their environmental legislation. The applicable provincial and territorial regulations can be obtained from environment ministries. For the full text of the CCME Guideline, contact the CCME at